Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-04-08

our reflections. Mine became intol-
erably anxious. Shaw, blessed with .
more phleggmatic temperament, and not
SO deeply interested as I was, was able
to enjoy the quasi-tranquillity OF q man
who feels that all that is possible under
the circumstances has been, or is being,
done, and enjoyed some well earned re-
pose. / wandered about aimlessly,
now seeking to distract my mind with
q little sightseeing, now with the
general observation of the streets Of a
strange city. But I could never keep
long away from the hotel, lest Harper
should return, and after a while gave it
up in despair, and passed the time as
best I could. waiting at the hotel.
At length Harper returned, and |
listened in breathless suspense to his
report.
He had traced Plowitx and Miss
Froteseue, first to an hotel near the
quay, where he had passed the lady off
as his invalid sister, and then to u very
respectable house, where furnished
rooms were let. He had taken rooms
for himself alone here, stating that his
cousin-for so he now called his conf
panion-was waiting to be fetched by
some friends. In a short time a Sister
of Mercy had called, and had gone
away with the lady in q cab. Plowitz
had gone out shortly afterwards, and
had not returned. Where he had as
sumed his disguise as a priest, and
whittier he was bound when we &C
cidentally crossed his path, and I in
st%inctively recognised him, Harper had
not yet found out, o did we care to
know. Shaw and I looked at one
another with great relief. Mary was
to some extent in safety. She was in
the care of good women, and whatever
might be her guardians subsequent
plans for her. we shouldhave no difficult
ty in finding her now, and meantime
W could feel quite sure of her kind
treatment.
I could not rest, however, without
seeing tor myself the place where she
had SO lately been. and following Har-
per's directions, I, after some wander
ing, arrived at the house.
The good landlady warmed with SYM
sympathy, and openingthe heartof gar
rulity to an interested listener describ-
ed graphically enough the incidents OF
Mary's short s~ojourn under her roof.
The lady, she said, seemed distraite
and sad; she had heen weeping, and
would take nothing. The gentleman
was very polite and attentive, but not
sympathetic.
"And the Sister," I asked, 'the lady
who took her ~away-did she seem
kind?'
The woman shook her head and de-
precstingly raised the backs of her
hands. The young lady seemed terri
fed when she saw her, but the lady
had great power and persuaded her.
The gentleman said she must either
stay with him or go with her, and then
the young lady seemed very angry and
went away with the tall Sister.
s'What was the Sister ike?"
.She was tall-very tall; like so
many of the English women"
'.English!"
eyes, certainly. English; and very
handsome-a very pale face and such
eyes! Never had she seen such eyes;
but they were not good, those eyes!
All, what was the matter with mon
! sieur?"
started ard turned pale. What if
this Sister of Mercy should be the Basil
iskp 1t must be so. I put a few ques-
tons which seemed to put it beyond
doubt.
"And the carriage in which they
It was an ordinary carriage. She
had not taken any particular notice of
it.
'.And where had they gomez"
She did not know. The lady had
given no directions. The driver seem
ed to know, for he drove off at once.
l returned to the hotel, once more a
prey to devouring anxiety. Shaw, too,
was much moved by this latest develop
ment. He begged me, however, to sit
down and rest, and endeavor to COM
pose my mind.
"No," I said, sit is impossible; I
must 90 out. It is the only resource I
have now. I must find Mary!
'But," said he soothingly, ''you
can't expect to find her by walking
about the streets of Antwerp at ran
DOM"
.'Why not7' I said. II found
Plowitz by accident this morning. l
may find Mary by accident this even
ing" =,
And out I went.
AS I pursued my vague quest, the
clear light that precedes sunset on a
windy evening brought every OBJ
ject in startling relief. The leaves
were flying and whirling around;
masses of clouds, amber and grey,
were confusedly rolling across the sky;
the rocks were cawing about the tow
ers, and the strange music Of tho
chimes rang out ftfully upon the bat
Ting breezes. I felt a sense OF danger.
and. passing a shop where a large ar
ray of sticks caught my eye,I stepped in
and J1rohoso q caruioooh 1a r1ifo-nro